The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart: The Complete Recordings [Original recording remastered]

Amazon.com
Seen from a '60s perspective, this collection might strike a novice Supremes fan as somewhat unusual. Viewed in the context of Diana Ross's subsequent solo career as pop diva extraordinaire, however, it makes perfect, often sublime sense. But the historical truth is that the Motown superstars had employed an eclectic mix of classics and new material that was typical of the era. The germ of this album was a 1966 all-star TV special honoring the music of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart, whose songs for stage musicals and films from the mid-1920s to early 1940s had long since become one of the great treasure troves of American songraft. Twenty-five songs were subsequently recorded in Los Angeles for a planned double album that was eventually truncated to a 12-track single disc. This anthology includes those complete sessions, productions that span the lounge-ready verve of "The Lady Is a Tramp" and restrained pop-jazz of "My Funny Valentine" and "The Blue Room" to the more rhythmic, Motown formulaic takes of "Lover," "My Romance," and "Falling in Love with Love" that became the focus of the initial, cut-down album. It's the second half that explores the Supremes' musical potential outside their familiar recipe for hits. Previously unreleased cuts include a go-go-upped version of Pal Joey's "I Could Write a Book" and an animated 1967 live-at-the-Copa medley of "Lady Is a Tramp/Let's Get Away from It All," which marks one of Florence Ballard's last performances with the group. --Jerry McCulley

The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart: The Complete Recordings,The Supremes,Motown / Pgd,Girl Group,Motown,Oldies,Pop,Pop-Soul,R&B,Soul,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Uptown Soul

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Average customer rating: The Supremes are Supremes Classic and Versatile: SUPREMELY GRAND EXCELLENT; DELIGHTFUL THE SUPREMES SING My Heart Stood Still

The Supremes Sing Rodgers & Hart The Supremes Manufacturer: Motown ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Classic R&B | R&B | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music Motown | R&B | Styles | Music General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music Girl Groups | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music General | Oldies | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: More Hits/Supremes Sing Holland-Dozier-Holland Where Did Our Love Go/I Hear a Symphony Love Child/Supremes A-Go-Go Let the Sunshine in//Cream of the Crop A Bit of Liverpool/T.C.B. ASIN: B000063BOM Release Date: 2002-03-26

Tracks:

1. The Lady Is A Tramp
2. Mountain Greenery
3. This Can't Be Love
4. Where Or When
5. Lover
6. My Funny Valentine
7. My Romance
8. My Heart Stood Still
9. Falling In Love With Love
10. Thou Swell
11. Dancing On The Ceiling
12. Blue Moon
13. Manhattan
14. The Blue Room
15. With A Song In My Heart
16. Spring Is Here
17. Little Girl Blue
18. It Never Entered My Mind
19. There's A Small Hotel
20. You Took Advantage Of Me - Alternate Mix
21. Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered - Alternate Version
22. Wait Till You See Him
23. I Didn't Know What Time It Was
24. Johnny One Note
25. I Could Write A Book
26. Medley: The Lady Is A Tramp/Let's Get Away From It All (Live)

Amazon.com

Seen from a '60s perspective, this collection might strike a novice Supremes fan as somewhat unusual. Viewed in the context of Diana Ross's subsequent solo career as pop diva extraordinaire, however, it makes perfect, often sublime sense. But the historical truth is that the Motown superstars had employed an eclectic mix of classics and new material that was typical of the era. The germ of this album was a 1966 all-star TV special honoring the music of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Lorenz Hart, whose songs for stage musicals and films from the mid-1920s to early 1940s had long since become one of the great treasure troves of American songraft. Twenty-five songs were subsequently recorded in Los Angeles for a planned double album that was eventually truncated to a 12-track single disc. This anthology includes those complete sessions, productions that span the lounge-ready verve of "The Lady Is a Tramp" and restrained pop-jazz of "My Funny Valentine" and "The Blue Room" to the more rhythmic, Motown formulaic takes of "Lover," "My Romance," and "Falling in Love with Love" that became the focus of the initial, cut-down album. It's the second half that explores the Supremes' musical potential outside their familiar recipe for hits. Previously unreleased cuts include a go-go-upped version of Pal Joey's "I Could Write a Book" and an animated 1967 live-at-the-Copa medley of "Lady Is a Tramp/Let's Get Away from It All," which marks one of Florence Ballard's last performances with the group. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

The Supremes are Supremes.......2007-01-13

This was recorded in the age of Pop songs and it is what is now called Standards. The Standards are very Popular with singers like Rod Stewart, Michale Bulbe and Steve Tyrell doing them so to have the Supremes singing some of them is Great.
Plus just read on Line (1/11/07)that Las Vegas is talking to Mary Wilson and Cindy Birdsong and Diana Ross about a Reunion
I don't think it will happen but it would be great to see them.

Classic and Versatile: SUPREMELY GRAND.......2006-03-24

This is a great, no, GRAND album. Many detractors of the Supremes who dismiss the Supremes as window dressing for Motown's music-making-machine who were used by Berry Gordy to make the label more appealing to the masses have not listened to this project. Mary, Florence and Diana's broader appreciation for music genres other than jazz, r&b, and gospel is clearly revealed here. Diana in particular shines on cuts such as "The Lady Is A Tramp", "Dancing On The Ceiling", Little Girl Blue", "It Never Entered My Mind", "Poor Johnny One-Note", and others. There are a couple of times when Diana is too nasal or doesn't turn a lyric just right. Overall she is in great form; reminding this listener of a very young Nancy Wilson (in tone) or Eartha Kitt (in allure).

On this CD I can see why Florence would be angry and hostile about her fading vocal significance on the Supremes' recorded work. The arrangements place Diana's voice out front while most of the harmony parts are written for alto and tenor voices. Florence, a soprano and Mary, a contralto, carry on quite effectively but it seems apparent that the arrangements are not meant to enhance a group sound; but a lead vocalist with two background singers.

The Rodgers and Hart songs give the listener another side of the premier, female vocal group at Motown; not only for record sales, popularity or crossover appeal, but for sheer versatility and talent.

One of the most underrated and underappreciated albums of their career. Great Buy.

EXCELLENT; DELIGHTFUL.......2005-04-07

THE SUPREMES SING RODGERS AND HART works so well for many reasons. Firstly, the songs themselves could hardly miss. R & H wrote great tunes, and those selected here are wonderful. Secondly, the music is treated with respect and enthusiasm, even the tunes where a "Motown sound" was adapted work very well. Thirdly, Diana Ross was coming into her own as a song stylist. Her performances are uniformly very good to excellent. Fourth, the background vocals are prominent on songs in which they exist, and they add a special dimension to the music. And yes, it really is the wonderful Mary Wilson and Florence Ballard, with this being the latter's last studio album as part of the group. Highlights: Lady Is A Tramp (a Diana solo), Lover, My Romance, Falling in Love with Love (which features a duetted lead vocal by Diana and Mary), Blue Moon, Dancing on The Ceiling (virtually a solo by Diana), The Blue Room. The only clunker is Manhattan, which features an unimpressive arrangement treatment, and lyrics that seem meaningless because of the Ms. Ross' delivery. [Check out Dinah Washington's version on Verve.] Definitely worth checking out. A treat for lovers of great songs AND that Motown production and treatment.

THE SUPREMES SING.......2005-03-29

i had the original lp from the 60s and when the expanded cd collection was released i couldnt wait to get it,i wasnt disapointed in it either although i was surprised that some of these songs and performances where so good and why it took so many years for them to come out!!!!isnt music meant to be heard or maybe locked in a vault .the lp is the supremes,in a way ,outside of their maga hits,at their best.great performances .even on a few tracks you get that supremes harmony.too bad BERRY GORDY didnt see to use their harmonies more rather that just push ross to to the front all the time,not that ross is not a good singer,she is and has always had the talent to back up whatever was thrown at her.but if you are the lead singer ...well you are and you dont have to push the other vocals down low to be heard!the ladies really did have some great harmony and vocals and to hear FLO vocal up against DIANA on Manhatten is pure magic.i never really was into broadway songs ans the like but the SUPREMES gave me a new respect for them here in this beautiful cd.in addtion,motown has just released the never before released SUPREMES LP,...THERES A PLACE FOR US from 1965 ,but only mail order only.24 great cuts if you are interested at www.hipo-select.com.you ll find a few suprises there too.

My Heart Stood Still.......2005-01-07

Having owned the original vinyl of the truncated 12 track version, I knew what to expect in terms of the performances. At the tender age of 9 (when I first heard this record) these songs were my first experience of Rodgers and Hart and in some cases the performances that I judged others versions against. The storming opener The Lady is A Tramp still takes some beating as does Mountain Greenery, Dancing on The Ceiling, the classic Motown stomping take of My Heart Stood Still and that old lump in the throat classic My Funny Valentine.

My only moan about this expanded collection is that somewhere in the remastering some of the bite of the original recordings has got lost and the songs sound a little flat compared to previous versions. This is not one of those vinyl versus CD comparisons - it's just an observation.

Sonic quibbles aside - this is a great record for music lovers (especially Northern Soul fans) to stick on, gaze at that Ritzy clubland cover and as has been said before imagine you're at the Copa slurping Martinis while the girls belt out the classics.

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